Moritz Seider is no stranger to leadership. The 23-year-old defenseman has already earned the "A" on his sweater with the Detroit Red Wings this NHL season, a nod to the maturity and poise he brings to the ice every night. Now, he’s set to carry that same presence onto the international stage-this time at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Germany announced its leadership group on Monday, and it’s a trio that speaks to the country’s rising hockey profile. Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl will wear the “C” as team captain, with Seider and Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stützle serving as alternate captains. It’s a group built not just on skill, but on experience and presence-three players who have become cornerstones for their NHL clubs and now aim to do the same for their country.
For Seider, this moment has been a long time coming.
“I mean, it’s great, honestly,” Seider said of the Olympic call-up. “That’s what everyone hopes for.
Everyone dreams about being there, representing their country, and playing in the Olympic Games. Especially for me, I think it’s very much a dream come true.”
It’s not just about the games themselves. For Seider, the Olympics represent something bigger-a chance to be part of something global, something that inspired him long before he was patrolling NHL blue lines.
Like many kids, Seider grew up glued to the screen during Olympic broadcasts. But while some fans might expect his most vivid memories to involve Germany’s remarkable silver-medal run in men’s hockey at PyeongChang 2018, his mind goes back even further-and a little warmer.
“I feel like growing up, you kind of had to be involved in the Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps stories,” Seider said. “I know that’s the Summer Olympics. But I mean, I think they kind of show what it means to be an Olympic athlete.”
That reverence for greatness, regardless of sport, is part of what makes Seider such a compelling figure. He’s not just a competitor-he’s a student of the moment, someone who understands the weight of wearing his country’s colors on the world’s biggest stage.
Now, he gets his own chance to create those memories. The Olympic Village.
The national anthem. The pressure-packed games that define legacies.
It’s all ahead of him.
“Having the opportunity to actually go and participate, representing your country, making great memories in the (Athletes’ Village), and everything, the excitement is very big,” Seider said.
And he won’t be alone. Stützle, his fellow alternate captain and good friend, has already arrived in Italy, and the two have been spotted soaking in the Olympic atmosphere together. It’s a pairing that could be pivotal for Germany-not just on the ice, but in the locker room, where leadership and chemistry often make the difference in tournament play.
Germany’s leadership group is set. The stakes are high. And for Moritz Seider, the dream is just beginning.